* This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of

law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3. 

## F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit 

### MAR 25 1998 

### PATRICK FISHER Clerk UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

JOHN MICHAEL RICKS,

Plaintiff - Appellant, No. 97-3181

v. D. Kansas (NFN) MACKEY, Lt. Col., Director of Treatment Programs, USDB Ft. Leavenworth,

Defendant - Appellee. (D.C. No. 96-CV-3525)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before ANDERSON , McKAY , and LUCERO , Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, th is panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34 (a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. This cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.1 Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents , 403 U.S. 388 (1971)

.
2 On appeal, Ricks further elaborates that as a result of these interviews, he becomes “hostile, aggressive, and near the breaking point resulting in a total abandonment of his pacifist nature.” Appellant’s Br. at 8. Although Ricks has advised treatment personnel that he does not wish to participate in the interviews, he has been informed that “regulations require quarterly contact.” R. Vol. I, Tab 10 at 1.

3 When Ricks filed his complaint in November 1996, $120.00 constituted a full filing fee. It was not until December 18, 1996, that the filing fee for federal district court was increased to $150.00. -2- John M. Ricks, a federal prisoner at the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, filed a Bivens civil rights action 1 against the Director of Treatment Programs at the facility, all eging that he was “being subjected to systemic harrassment” [sic] through qu arterly interviews under the direction of Defendant and that the actions of trea tment personnel constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Ei ghth Amendment. R. Vol. I, Tab 2 at 3. In support of this claim, Ricks allege d only that in these interviews, treatment personnel “badgered” him and attempted to “entice [him] into retracting his steadfastly maintained pleas of not guilty from his trial.” 2 Id. Ricks simultaneously filed an application to procee d in forma pauperis (IFP), which the district court granted, assessing him an initial partial filing fee of $1.00. R. Vol. I, Tab 6. Ricks eventually paid a full filing fee in two installments of $5.00 and $115.00 respectively. 3 After Ricks had paid the filing fee but before service of summons on Defendant, the district court found that-3-

Ricks’ complaint failed to state a claim for which relief may be granted and dismissed the matter sua sponte. Ricks filed a tim ely notice of appeal, and was granted provisional leave to proceed in forma paupe ris on appeal. Ricks alleges on appeal that the district court err ed by dismissing his civil rights action sua sponte because when he paid the f ull filing fee, his “IFP status was effectively abolished and . . . the case should have been treated as a non-IFP complaint.” Appellant’s Br. at 4. He also contends that the district court erred in dismissing his complaint before service of process could be made and without affording him notice of deficiencies and an opportu nity to amend his complaint. Id. at 4-5. Finally, Ricks argues that when it applie d Farmer v. Brennan , 511 U.S. 825 (1994), the district court applied the wrong st andard in determining that his factual assertions failed to state a claim upon whi ch relief could be granted. Id. at 6-8. A dismissal for failure to state a claim is subjectto de novo review. Kidd v. Taos Ski Valley, Inc. , 88 F.3d 848, 854 (10th Cir. 1996) (referring to F ed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6)); see McGore v. Wrigglesworth , 114 F.3d 601, 604 (6th Cir. 1997) (referring to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) & 1915A ). Although it is unclear whether the district court b ased its dismissal of Ricks’ complaint on Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), 28 U. S.C. § 1915(e)(2), or 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the district court properly dismiss ed Ricks’ complaint sua sponte-4-

regardless of the basis invoked. See United States v. Sandoval , 29 F.3d 537, 542 n.6 (10th Cir. 1994) (stating that we are free to a ffirm a district court decision on any grounds supported by the record). Ricks’ arguments regarding his fee status, the lackof service of process, and the lack of opportunity to amend his complaint are unpersuasive. Section 1915(e)(2) specifically mandates that if a case is frivolous, fails to state a claim, or is pursued against an immune party, the c ourt shall dismiss it “[n]otwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion t hereof, that may have been paid.” Also, § 1915A requires the court to review, “before docketing, if feasible or . . . as soon as practicable after docketing,” a ll complaints “in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officeror employee of a governmental entity.” See also McGore , 114 F.3d at 604-05, 612 (stating that sua sponte screening pursuant to § 1915(e)(2) or § 1915 A must occur “before service of process is made on the opposing parties” and that “courts have no discretion in permitting a plaintiff to amend a complaint to avoi d a sua sponte dismissal”). And under Rule 12(b)(6), a district court may alway s dismiss a claim sua sponte where, as here, “it is patently obvious that the pl aintiff could not prevail on the facts alleged, and allowing him an opportunity to a mend his complaint would be futile.” McKinney v. Oklahoma Dept. of Human Servs

. , 925 F.2d 363, 365 (10th Cir. 1991) (quotations and citations omitted).4In addition to arguing that the interviews are “highly detrimental to his wellbeing,” Appellant’s Br. at 8, Ricks argues that he should be advised of his rights and given legal counsel at each interview. Id. This argument is unpersuasive. And although Ricks does not frame his arguments in due process terms, we note also that the interviewing procedure employed at the facility does not impose an atypical or a significant hardship on Ricks in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life. See Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 483-84 (1995). -5- Finally, the district court appropriately applied F armer v. Brennan in analyzing Ricks’ Eighth Amendment claim. See R. Vol. I, Tab 10 at 2. In
Farmer , 511 U.S. 825 (1994), the Supreme Court addressed a prisoner’s Bivens claim based on the Eighth Amendment and held that t o succeed on an Eighth Amendment claim, a plaintiff must show first, that the alleged deprivation was sufficiently serious, denying “‘the minimal civiliz ed measure of life’s necessities,’” id. at 834, and second, that the responsible official acted with “deliberate indifference” to inmate health or safety. Id. ; see also Hunt v. Downing , 112 F.3d 452, 453 (10th Cir. 1997); Grimsley v. M acKay , 93 F.3d 676, 680-81 (10th Cir. 1996); Adkins v. Rodriguez , 59 F.3d 1034, 1037 (10th Cir. 1995). We agree with the district court that the Farmerstandard was not satisfied. 4 Furthermore, Ricks does not state what facts he wou ld allege to further support his claims had the district court allowed him the o pportunity to amend his complaint, and the factual allegations he does make are vague and conclusory.-6-

See Hall v. Bellmon , 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991) (holding that a pro se litigant must allege sufficient facts to support cl aims). Accepting “all the well-pleaded allegations of the complaint as true,” Gagan v. Norton , 35 F.3d 1473, 1474 n.1 (10th Cir. 1994) (quotation omitted) , and construing Ricks’ pro se pleadings liberally as we are required to do, see Haines v. Kerner , 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972), we are satisfied that it is “patently o bvious” that Ricks could not possibly obtain relief under the facts alleged. We conclude that this appeal fails to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for purposes of counting prior occasions under § 1915(g). Because a complaint dismissed for failure to state a claim followed by an appeal that fails to state a claim count as two prior occa sions under § 1915(g), two “strikes” are recorded against Ricks. We DENY Rick s’ request to be excused from all appellate filing fees.
DISMISSED.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Stephen H. Anderson Circuit Judge